Automobile light dimmer



R. s. WlLKlE AUTOMOBILE LIGHT DIMMER Aug. 18, 1925.

2 She'ts-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1923 gwventoz if 6, m L ITIE Aug. 18, 1925.

R. S. WILKIE AUTOMOBILE LIGHT DIMMER FiIed April 12, 1923 a Sheets-Sheet 2 M'r/vEssEs Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

RICHARD s. WILKiE, or BRIGGS, IDAHO.

AUTOMOBILE LIGHT DIMMER.

Application filed April 12, 1923. Serial No. 631,688.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD S. WILKIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Driggs, in the county of Tetonand State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automobile Light Dimmer, of which the following is a specification. 7

This invention relates to light deflectors and eomprehends vital improvements in means for deflecting the rays of light from an automobile head light down on the roadway,so as to effectively prevent glare, and thereby increase the safety of" night driving.

A prime object of the invention is to provide a novel casing adapted to be detachably connected with any ordinary type of automobile headlight, the. casing having associated therewith novel shutter slats which are adapted to be operatedfrom' any preferred point on the motor vehicle, the slats being adapted to change the angle of the rays of light emanated from the headlight so as to cause the rays of light to be cast downward on the road.

A further prime obj eot of the invention is to provide an improved headlight dimmer embodying a plurality of pivoted shutter slats, the shutter slats being so connected one with the other, that the upper slats will be moved at a greater angle to the horizontal than the lower shutter slats when the slats are operated to cast the'rays of light from the headlight downward. V

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved headlight dimmer of the above character, which will be durable and eficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market and incorporated with ordinary headlights at a minimum cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings; in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of the improved headlight dimmers connected with a headlight.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the improved dimmers connected with a headlight.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the slats constituting a part of the dimmer Figure l is a central diametric section through the dimmer showing the same connected to a headlight.

Referring to the drawings in detail,

wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generallyindi- I cates the improved dimmer and B the headlight. The headlight B is of the usual or any preferred construction and includes a reflector 5 mounted upon any preferred type of supporting standard 6.

The improved dimmer A comprises an enlarged cylindrical shell 10 having its rear or inner edge provided with aninwardly extending frusto-conical flange 11, which in turn carries an annular attaching flange 12. This flange 12 shouldxbe of such adiameter as to snugly receive theouter casing or outer surface of the reflector 5 and can be detachably connected thereto in any preferred way, such as by set screws, bolts or the like 13.

Disposed within the cylindrical body or shell 10 is arranged the rays oflight controlling device, which embodies "ashutter arrangement 15 including a plurality of shutter slats 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. These slatslt, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are of different lengths to conform to the position thereof within the said housing or cylindrical body 10, and the terminals of these slats at their longitudinal centers support outwardly extending pivot pinsor pintles 21 which are rotatably mounted within the cylindrical body 10 at spaced points. These slats 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are preferably connected together for synchronous movement, so that when one slat is operated all of the same will be operated, and as shown, these slats are connectedtogether by suitable links 22, 23, 24, and 25. These. links have bearings formed on their terminals for receiving suitable pivot pins or the like which can be carried by the said slats. It is preferred to have the uppermost slats connected together in such a manner, that when the slats are shifted so as to cast the rays of light downward, which are emanated from the headlight that the same will be disposed at a greater angle or pitch to the horizontal than the lower slats and thus insuring that all the rays of light which are generally castupthese slats are shifted the same will be moved to a greater angle. The uppermost hearings or pivot pins 26 receiving the links 24 and 25 are disposed nearer to the pivot pins 21.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the uppermost slat will be preferably disposed at a greater angle to the horizontal than the lower slats.

The lowermost slat 16 can have its pintle or pivot pin 21 provided with a double ended crank 30 and one end of this crank has connected thereto a suitable cord or the like 31, which can extend to a foot pedal, hand lever or the like for shifting the said slats. The opposite end of the lever has connected thereto a coil spring 32 which normally urges the slat to a horizontal position for permitting the rays of light to take the regular course as they emanate from the headlight B. As shown this spring is of the contractile type and has its end opposite to the end which is connected to the double ended lever 30 connected to a suitable lug or the like 33.

I prefer to have the lower surfaces of the slat covered or glazed with a substance which will reflect the light and the upper surface thereof painted with some dark material to absorb the light and thus effectively prevent the casting of the rays of light upwardly and insuring the proper casting of the rays downwardly in front of the ma chine onto the roadway.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention.

That I claim as new is As a new article of manufacture, a headlight dimmer comprising a casing shaped to receive the forward end of a headlight, a shutter disposed in the casing including a plurality of slats arranged one above the other, outwardly extending pintles carried by the terminals of the slats at the longitudinal centers thereof rockably mounted in said casing, links pivotally connecting the lowermost slats together at the rear edges thereof, links connecting the uppermost slats together, said last mentioned links being connected to the uppermost slats inward of the rear edges thereof adjacent to the pintles, whereby upon movement of the slats the uppermost slats will be disposed at a greater angle to the horizontal than the lowermost slats, means connected to one of the said slats for normally holding all of the slats in a predetermined position, and means operatively connected to the mentioned slatfor permitting the manual adjustment of said slats.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RICHARD S. VVILKIE. 

